The Colour Red

A/N: I have always been fascinated by two things: time travel stories and a blind Sasuke. So, why not combine both? I have not written for a looong time, so I hope this is up to par. I don't have a beta reader either, so if anyone catches any mistakes, please let me know! I have not written beyond this, but a storyboard has been planned out, so it should be fine.

I hope you guys enjoy!

Sasuke snapped round and Sakura choked as his fingers clamped around her throat. Fear gripped Kakashi and he sprang forward, sending bursts of chakra to his feet to make him move faster. Faster! The sound of birds filled the air. Faster! Sakura screamed. Faster! Dread overtook him as he stumbled – he wasn't going fast enough, he wasn't going to make it.

"No! Sasuke, don't-"

A horrible guttural sound drowned out his shout. The water splashed as Sakura's body was unceremoniously dropped into the river, the blue already colouring red. Sasuke stood silent with blood dripping from his open palm. Ice shot through Kakashi's veins. A cry tore through his lips and he grabbed his wrist, electricity already swirling around his body. His eyes locked onto Sasuke's still form as he started to pump more chakra into his palm. Sasuke was going to die here: he had fallen too low, there was no saving him now.

"No!"

Kakashi's head snapped up and the electricity around him fizzled, no more than a soft buzz. Bewilderment clouded his thoughts for a second. Naruto. Kakashi realised when his confused mind caught up with the situation.

"No! You bastard!" Naruto was kneeling down on the water now, hugging Sakura's lifeless body against his chest, blood seeping into his clothes. "Come on, Sakura, wake up. Wake up! Wake up." His head was buried in her pink locks, his voice thick.

Numbness filled Kakashi as he stared at the scene before him. The electricity faded completely. His mind was struggling to comprehend what was happening. Everything was moving so quickly now: Naruto had thrown up his head, a howl escaping his lips, red bubbles covering his skin, burning the air. It was so hot. Sasuke was looking down at the pair with unfazed red eyes. Naruto was growling as he stood up – fangs already protruding from his mouth – with chakra swirling in his palm. Sasuke narrowed his eyes and chirping filled the air once more. The two faced each other and then Naruto sprang forward in a half-human half-fox run. Sasuke charged forwards as well and the two were running towards each other with their most lethal attack.

And then with a snap clarity overtook him. Kakashi gasped and readied himself. He knew what he had to do: he was going to end it once and for all. This was the perfect moment! The Jounin took a slow breath and drew upon the last ounces of chakra in his body. Mangekyou Sharingan! Fatigue blurred his vision for a single second before Kakashi steadied himself and locked onto Sasuke's form.

I'm sorry, Naruto… I couldn't save Sakura and I couldn't save Sasuke, either. I know you'll hate me for this, but I can't let him live any longer. Pain exploded behind his eye. Kamui!

As a single stream of blood rolled down his cheek, Kakashi's eardrums almost burst when the Chidori and Rasengan finally clashed. Even as he got pushed back by the force exuded from the collision, Kakashi kept his Mangekyou dutifully focused on Sasuke – he couldn't fail now!

Fear overtook his senses as a blinding light flashed and engulfed the two clashing shinobi. He could already feel the air rippling around him. His eyes shifted slightly: Sasuke's form was already fading completely into the light. This was it.

The rippling became a full-on distortion in the air: it was impossible to see anything clearly now, only vague shapes and colours. A sharp pain shot through Kakashi's body and he fell forward onto one knee, almost sinking through the surface of the water due to chakra exhaustion. He barely noticed it was the colour red. Kakashi could only focus on the light that was getting brighter and brighter and the swirling that contorted his vision further. It was hurting his head. Fear gripped Kakashi as he tried to focus on something – anything – that was tangible, but found he couldn't.

What was going on? This had never happened before – did something go wrong?

Kakashi could feel the air rushing past his face as butterflies filled his stomach, like he was falling and never reaching the ground. Like he was soaring. Calmness spread over him: this was pretty nice. The ache in his muscles was already fading and the fear he had felt was being replaced by a serene sensation. Kakashi wouldn't mind floating like this forever.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Kakashi groaned – what was that?

Tap! Tap! Tap!

He rolled over, dipping his head under the blankets to drown out the sound. He didn't want to lose that calmness from before: it had been so comfortable and-

Wait – what? Blankets?

TAP! TAP! TAP!

"Kakashi! I know you're in there! Come on, we can't be late!"

That voice… no, it couldn't be. He quickly threw the covers off of him and ran towards the door, slamming it open to reveal the face of a man long dead. Euphoria filled Kakashi and he grinned elatedly. "Asuma!" Before he knew it, Kakashi was giving him a firm hug before letting go and smiling up at his friend.

Said friend was staring back in utter confusion: Kakashi was not known for physical signs of affection. "Ah, good morning, Kakashi," Asuma stammered. "I'm glad you're awake. It's orientation for the Genin today and it's a chance for us to have a look at them before the teams are decided. Ah come on! I know you want to see them!" Asuma clapped Kakashi on the back, laughing.

Kakashi stared at Asuma, disturbed. Genin orientation? What was going on?

"Ah, yes," he managed. "Let me just put on some clothes."

Kakashi slowly shuffled back inside his house. Because that's what it was: his house. And he was wearing his pyjamas. And Asuma stood outside. What was this? It was no genjutsu – he had already tried dispelling it the second he saw Asuma. The copy ninja studied his room: it was the same as always. Wait – no, it wasn't. Kakashi strode towards his desk, upon which a picture frame. One picture frame. There was no Team 7 photo – where did it go? He looked around once more, eyes resting on the lone calendar on the wall, showing a familiar date: the day he got appointed Jounin of Team 7.

"Kakashi?"

Asuma's voice snapped him out of his stunned staring. "Y-Yeah, I'm coming." He stammered, quickly putting on his Jounin vest, headband, a fresh shirt, trousers and sandals.

"Alright, let's go." Asuma nodded at Kakashi and the pair headed off towards the Hokage's office.

Confusion was bubbling inside of Kakashi. He was trying to make sense of what was happening. He was in the past, there was no doubt about it. The date, the picture, Asuma… But how did this happen? The last thing he remembered was using Kamui on Sasuke and then everything had gone blank. Could this be a parallel dimension created by the Mangekyou Sharingan?

Kakashi was so ensnared in his thoughts that he didn't even realise they had reached their destination until Asuma tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up, dazed. They were in front of the Hokage's building. As they went inside, Kakashi felt a bit abashed at not seeing the familiar faces of Tsunade's staff running around the place. The whole building had a different feel to it.

"Lord Third," Asuma dipped his head as they opened the door to the office.

"Ah, Asuma and Kakashi." The Third Hokage – The Third – smiled at them in contentment. "We're finally complete. I'm glad you came to collect him, Asuma, otherwise we'd have waited even longer." He chuckled.

The other Jounin sniggered, but Kakashi could not bring himself to reply with his trademark excuse.

"Alright then, let's have a look at the Genin." The Third motioned towards the crystal ball on his desk and the Jounin gathered round to peer into it.

As the faces of the Genin came into view one by one, Kakashi could not help but examine his Jounin colleagues and friends. All these people… knowing what they were going to go through in the future. Kakashi felt sick – the world they lived in was disgusting. This rotten shinobi system, taking the lives of so many of his friends.

"The most promising student: Sasuke Uchiha."

Red-hot anger flashed through his system. Kakashi's head snapped up towards the crystal ball, his nails digging into his palms. It was all he could do to stop lashing out at the piece of glass. Seeing Sasuke's face, so arrogant and self-absorbed, he wondered why he was ever glad at having the Uchiha as a student. This time, he'd make sure Sasuke was put on another team.

"He's the only survivor left from the Uchiha Clan…" Kurenai stated softly.

The vision in the crystal ball shifted to a group of girls in the classroom. Kakashi felt a pang of nostalgia as he noticed Naruto on the floor. He was so different back then… As the Jounin started talking amongst themselves about the selection of Genin, Kakashi realised he had been lost in thought again. People were starting to leave the room: the orientation was probably over. As he was about to exit the office, the Hokage motioned for him. Kakashi frowned: he faintly remembered this. The Third was going to ask him to take the team of Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura. Sakura… He felt guilty just thinking about her.

"Kakashi, I'm going to assign you to Team 7, consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha," The Hokage told him. "I think you'd be-"

"Lord Third, I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't think I'm suited for this team. They seem like too much of a hassle, especially the Uchiha kid."

"Sasuke? Why would you say that? He graduated at the top of his class. Plus, he's an Uchiha. You are the most capable to train him once his Sharingan awakens. Kakashi, you are best suited for this team." The Hokage said firmly. "As for Sakura Haruno, she's the top kunoichi of her year. And Naruto Uzumaki… he might be a bit troublesome, but he's a good kid." He smiled.

Kakashi was stunned silent – an idea had taken root. A really stupid idea. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Kakashi had looked at the end product when he really should have looked at the source of all their problems in the first place.

"Alright, I'll take them on, Lord Hokage."

The Third smiled contently and Kakashi clenched his fists in determination.

He would destroy that damned Sharingan.

A/N: And that's the prologue done! Later chapters will obviously be longer. 'Till next time!